Should NOT

KTVU
Published on Aug 29, 2016
Raw Video – 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick explains why he is refusing to stand during the National Anthem.

A timeline of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest and the athletes who joined him By Mark Sandritter Updated Sep 25, 2017, 10:28am EDT sbnation.com“…Initially, Kaepernick was alone in his protest. And unnoticed. His protest didn’t come to light and gain national attention until the third preseason game. Since then, he’s continued on with his protest while being joined by several other NFL players, other professional, college and high school athletes.

Here is a complete timeline of Kaepernick’s protest and the other athletes who has followed suit.
Aug. 14 and Aug. 20 — Kaepernick goes unnoticed while sitting during the anthem

Kaepernick made headlines when he sat during the 49ers third preseason game, but he also sat during the first two games, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Kaepernick wasn’t in uniform and didn’t play during the first two games…”

Eric Reid: Why Colin Kaepernick and I Decided to Take a Knee By Eric Reid Sept. 25, 2017 nytimes.com“In early 2016, I began paying attention to reports about the incredible number of unarmed black people being killed by the police. The posts on social media deeply disturbed me, but one in particular brought me to tears: the killing of Alton Sterling in my hometown Baton Rouge, La. This could have happened to any of my family members who still live in the area. I felt furious, hurt and hopeless. I wanted to do something, but didn’t know what or how to do it. All I knew for sure is that I wanted it to be as respectful as possible.

A few weeks later, during preseason, my teammate Colin Kaepernick chose to sit on the bench during the national anthem to protest police brutality. To be honest, I didn’t notice at the time, and neither did the news media. It wasn’t until after our third preseason game on Aug. 26, 2016, that his protest gained national attention, and the backlash against him began…”

Devin McCourty explains why Patriots knelt during national anthem Dan Ventura Sunday, September 24, 2017 bostonherald.com“..Fueled by comments by President Donald J. Trump aimed at NFL players not standing for the national anthem, McCourty and at least 15 Patriots teammates took a knee during the anthem prior to playing the Texans Sunday. Many fans booed the players in response and called for them to “stand up.” ..”Everything you need to know about NFL protests during the national anthem By Adam Stites Updated Oct 19, 2017, 11:37am EDT sbnation.com“..”This stand wasn’t for me. This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change. So I’m in the position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.”

His decision to sit during the national anthem drew criticism, though. Many felt and still feel it was disrespectful to the United States, its flag, and its military.

“I have great respect for the men and women that have fought for this country,” Kaepernick said. “I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country. And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone. That’s not happening.

“People are dying in vain because this country isn’t holding their end of the bargain up, as far as giving freedom and justice, liberty to everybody. That’s something that’s not happening. I’ve seen videos, I’ve seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought have for, and have been murdered by the country they fought for, on our land. That’s not right.”..”

WFAA
Published on Sep 25, 2017
“Our forefathers made freedom of speech the First Amendment. They listed 10, and not one of them says you have to stand during the national anthem.”

Randy Moss describes hate mail he received after wearing controversial tie at HOF induction Tom Schad, USA TODAY Published 12:15 p.m. ET Aug. 9, 2018 usatoday.com“..In an interview with the website that published Thursday, Moss said more than 20 NBA and NFL athletes have reached out privately to thank or applaud him after he wore a tie that listed the names of a dozen black men and women who have been killed by police. But Moss also said he’s gotten “probably 150 to 200 messages” that amounted to hate mail.

“All of this hate mail I’m getting for wearing a tie and talking about the truth. But I can handle it because I’ve been dealing with racism my whole life.”..”

Natives

My decision and my right’ — teen has sat out Pledge of Allegiance for years By Mayra Cuevas, CNN Updated 7:45 PM ET, Fri September 16, 2016 cnn.com“… (CNN)Long before Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem, sparking a national dialogue, there was Leilani Thomas.
Leilani, now 14, has sat out the Pledge of Allegiance since the second grade.
“Most of my teachers, they respected my decision and my right and belief. So they never said anything about it,” she told CNN during a phone interview Friday. “I think the pledge is a lie to me and it’s a lie to my people.”

Leilani and her family are part of the Elem Indian Colony — a Native American tribe in Northern California, where she attends Lower Lake High School as a freshman. …

Thomas was to join the North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline when Leilani told him about the situation with the pledge and her grades. He decided to stay and stand by his daughter instead.
But even 1,500 miles away from North Dakota, Leilani says she will find a way to make her voice heard in support of Standing Rock.
“As they say ‘justice for all’– we think that is a lie. What they did to my people not long ago? And not so long ago. They still do it today for example with Standing Rock in North Dakota. I want people to realize what has happened and is still happening to the native people to this day. I have my rights to do so,” she said. ..”

This list of complaints our ancestors made against the British government to the King got the entire Congress labeled as traitors and marked for the hangman’s noose. Like Kaepernick, they were a bunch of rich guys who were doing well in society-as-it-was, and they went out on a limb for those without power…and that limb snapped in two..”

Neutral Perspective

Debate: Colin Kaepernick

SM East Harbinger
Published on Sep 27, 2016
Students of Shawnee Mission East High School sat down on Thursday, September 22nd and discussed NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Specifically, his decision to kneel during the national anthem.

Should

Everyone Should Stand for the National Anthem

PragerU
Published on Nov 23, 2017
Why should every American stand for the National Anthem? Because the Anthem and the flag represent America, and America is a free nation. That alone is worth standing for. Joy Villa, singer, songwriter, and recording artist, explains.

Trump Criticizes NFL for Not Forcing Players to Stand for National Anthem By SCOTT RAFFERTY rollingstone.com
President said football players are displaying “total disrespect for our great country” by protesting during “The Star-Spangled Banner”“..During Tuesday’s meeting with owners and players, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league didn’t ask for a commitment from players to stand for the national anthem. Instead, Goodell explained, “We spent today talking about the issues that players have been trying to bring attention to – issues to make our communities better.”

In response, Donald Trump criticized the NFL via Twitter for not forcing players to stand for the national anthem, writing they are displaying “total disrespect for our great country” by protesting during the national anthem…”

Carla Malony, who was secretary of the GOP’s Beaver County branch, apologised for the series of posts she made on the social network last year.

Although it is unclear exactly when the comments were made, they appeared to be in reaction to players kneeling in protest as the national anthem played before NFL games.

In one post, Ms Malony described American footballers taking part in the gesture to protest cases of police brutality in the US as “over paid ignorant blacks”, suggesting they should “go to Africa”.

When another Facebook user commented: “Go Steelers,” in reference to the Pittsburgh Steelers NFL franchise, the GOP activist launched into another racially-charged tirade.

“Steelers are now just as bad as the rest of the over paid baboons. You respect your flag, country and our national atnthem (sic),” she wrote.

“Stop watching, or going to a game and paying for over priced food, water and tickets. Lets see how the baboons get paid when white people stop paying their salaries.”

The Beaver County Republican Committee said in a statement that it had accepted Ms Maloney’s resignations from both of her roles in the party and denounced her comments.

“The views expressed in her posts are abhorrent and have no place in reasonable public discourse,” the committee said.

The NFL national anthem protests first began in 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee to highlight police violence against minority groups and racial inequalities in America.

Since then, hundreds of players have refused to observe the anthem at American football games and in a variety of other US sports.

The protests have drawn the ire of president Donald Trump, who last year called on NFL franchise owners to fire players who refused to stand during the national anthem.

From the beginning of the 2018 NFL season, due to start on Thursday, players will be required by league rules to observe the anthem on the field or stay in the dressing room.

In her resignation statement, Ms Malony apologised for her remarks about the protests, which she said had been “in poor taste.”

“I apologise for my distasteful, inappropriate and insensitive social media posts,” she added.

“Those that know me know that I come from a diverse family that represents modern America.

“I know my posts and comments were disrespectful to not only the people that I love, but families across the country.

“I know I am a better person than this and, as I step away from these public positions, I will work to show everyone who I truly am.”..”

CNN
Published on Sep 2, 2018
According to the Beaver County Times, Carla Maloney, a Republican county official in Pennsylvania, has resigned after it was revealed that she’d written Facebook posts referring to kneeling NFL players as “baboons.”

The Right To Refuse Service? Businesses and Discrimination Louis Marlin — February 4, 2014 business2community.com“..Restaurants and stores qualify as “public accommodations” even if they’re a private business. As such, discrimination laws apply just as much on private property and to private businesses as they do in any public place.

Whether you post a sign or not, businesses never have the right to refuse or turn away customers because of their race, gender, age, nationality or religion. In addition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, several states have their own civil rights legislation designed to prevent discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act also prohibits discrimination in public accommodations, making it illegal to refuse service to individuals who are disabled or handicapped…

..there are some valid reasons for asking customers to leave. Individuals or groups who are causing trouble or being disruptive may be asked to leave, while restaurants or other businesses with a capacity limit can turn away customers to prevent this limit from being exceeded. Businesses can also refuse service to those who come in just before closing time or to those who are not making any purchases during their visit. There are various other examples – the key thing to note is that in each example, the decision to refuse service is not arbitrary or based upon an individual’s specific characteristics. Declining to serve someone has to be reasonable and justifiable. If customers are not properly dressed, you can ask that they leave, but if a person is wearing reasonable religious apparel and you dislike their beliefs, you can’t use that as an excuse to send them on their way. If ..”

“I called them and told them that I — we’re not going to have that at Sisters, we had no plans for that and there were no reservations to hold any kind of fundraiser or anything like that,” said owner Richard Hodo.

“I told them that I do not support their cause, that if they want to do that that’s their business. I do not care, but I don’t support their lifestyle and their cause,” he added.

Hodo told an organizer with the River Valley Equality Center that he runs a private business and that he reserves the right to deny any group or person service — whether that means saying “no” to white supremacists or a gay rights group…”

Dave Rubin Argues For ‘Freedom’ Of Baker Refusing To Make Gay Wedding Cake

Yes, Of Course A Business Owner Should Have The Right To Refuse Service To Gay People
By Matt Walsh, February 27th 2014 thoughtcatalog.com“..Late last week, Michael Brown and 24 of his friends and family met at a Charleston, South Carolina restaurant for a farewell party for his cousin. After waiting about two hours for a table, a shift manager at the Wild Wing Cafe told the party to leave. Did I mention these folks were black? Oh, well, they were black. And why weren’t they getting seated?

According to the shift manager, it was because a white patron felt “threatened” by the group, and the manager felt obliged to respect this woman’s delusion by keeping the black diners waiting in the lobby before ultimately kicking them out…”

‘Red Hen’ Owner Who Booted Sarah Sanders Just Got Nasty Taste Of Her Own Medicine

“..On Friday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her extended family members, many of whom are liberals, were forced out of the Red Hen eatery in Lexington, Virginia, by co-owner Stephanie Wilkinson. Although the party politely obliged the indignant staffers, Wilkinson proceeded to gather her comrades and stalk Sanders’ family at another restaurant, screaming insults and demanding they leave. ..”Red Hen restaurants around the world are getting blamed for kicking out Sarah Sanders By Adi Robertson and Makena Kelly Jun 26, 2018, 10:30am EDT theverge.com“..A Red Hen in Swedesboro, New Jersey, (motto: “deliciously simple food”) posted an exasperated note after receiving hundreds of phone calls about the incident. An unrelated restaurant in Connecticut pleaded with angry Facebook users: “People! PLEASE. Do not react before you know which FB page to which you are posting.” Across the border in Ontario, Canada, the Olde Red Hen’s owners were condemned as “liberal trash.” No restaurant was remote enough to escape the ire — not even the Little Red Hen in Muntinlupa City, Philippines, which was called out for 86-ing “one of the finest woman in this country.”..”

Americans split over whether businesses must serve same-sex couples By Michael Lipka pewresearch.org“..A Pew Research Center survey last year found a U.S. public divided over these types of issues. The survey asked Americans whether businesses that provide wedding services should be allowed to refuse service to same-sex couples on religious grounds, or whether they should be required to provide services. Roughly equal shares of U.S. adults answered the question each way, with 49% saying businesses should be required to serve same-sex weddings, and 47% saying businesses should be permitted to refuse service due to religious objections…”

“Because I’m very upset by somebody being kicked out of a restaurant in Lexington- this is not us,” said Mary Harvey-Halseth.

Others, traveled to the area hoping to eat at the restaurant and show support. ..”

“Shouldn’t Refuse

Political Beliefs

Why Sarah Sanders shouldn’t have been kicked out of that Virginia restaurant By Karin Klein Special to The Sacramento Bee June 24, 2018 01:15 PM sacbee.com“…When Sanders wants to buy underpants, she should be allowed to, even if the owner of the lingerie shop hates everything about her. A gay couple should be able to check into any hotel. The head of Planned Parenthood should be able to order dinner in a restaurant where the owner feels that abortion amounts to the horrific killing of innocent babies.
..”

Have you ever been “abused” (e.g. emotionally, physically, etc..) by someone and wanted to return back a similar “evil”? What happened? Was it worth it?

“EVIL”

10 People Who Took Justice Into Their Own Hands – YouTube

Eye For An Eye (Islam) Vs. Turn Other Cheek (Christianity)

“GOOD”

Notable Non-Violence Advocates

Amazing Testimony of Afshin Javid Part 1 of 2

Repay evil with good – YouTube

“..William Goxo and Tielman Slabbert grew up in a South Africa torn and divided by the Apartheid system. Ignorance, fear and hatred fuelled this unfair and terrible regime, and even as it was brought to an end, there was plenty of room for distrust, bitterness and enmity in its wake. Hear William and Tielman tell some of their experiences, and how the Christian gospel brings true liberation and reconciliation, leading to love and eternal friendship. By tackling the root of all problems: the sin that dwells in each one of us, no matter what race, background or outward circumstances, it helps us to overcome prejudice, suspicion, hard feelings and hatred. With God’s help we can learn to live the life that we read about in the Bible, and experience true unity. Visit http://www.brunstad.org to learn more about this Christian life. If you are interested, we encourage you to contact us: http://www.brunstad.org/en/Contact-us/..”

A Christian Testimony in the Face of Evil January 28, 2018 jubileeminneapolis.org“…From a Christian worldview, we have to understand that the facts are important. It is not wrong to want to know what the dots are and then to try to connect them. God made us rational and moral creatures and this moral sense reaches out for some rational explanation of the horrifying evil of our world. But our first response should not be to try to understand the crime, but rather, to identify with the community in grief and experiencing heartbreak.

The Christian worldview dignifies the heartbroken.”…”

When Is It Right to Repay Evil with Pain? Resource by John Piper Scripture: Romans 12:9–21 Topic: Public Justice desiringgod.org‘..The clear and uniform message here is that we should love our enemies, and that this love involves treating them better than they deserve, not returning evil for evil but blessing them from our heart and helping them when they need us. This teaching is the same as Jesus’ teaching when he said, for example (in Luke 6:27-31),..”

Explain “Do Not Be Overcome with Evil, But Overcome Evil with Good” Pat Robertson cbn.com“..If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles. If someone takes your coat, give him your shirt as well (see Matthew 5:40-41). Do so graciously, cheerfully, even assertively. God has given you the spiritual weapons to discern who your enemies are and then to conquer them by making them your friends. (Of course, as long as there are vicious criminals and international tyrants in the world, there must be a system of restraint through local or international police. In Romans 13, police and legitimate armies are considered by the apostle Paul as “ministers of God” to bring vengeance on lawbreakers.)..”

Many people have testified to overcoming years of bitterness that began when they were cursed or abused during childhood. As these abused individuals blessed their offenders, often their bitterness disappeared immediately.

But how are you to deal with bitterness toward someone on whom you no longer have the opportunity to bestow a blessing, such as someone who has died since the offense occurred?

Put your faith in God and His love for both you and the offender.
Thank God for His power to redeem those hurtful circumstances and memories.
Ask Him to give you wisdom and grace to forgive and release your offender from your bitterness and condemnation, even though the person may be dead already. You are still living, and you can still make choices that bring freedom and blessing to your life as you choose to forgive and bless instead of be bitter and curse. (See James 1:5, John 16:23, II Peter 1:2, Hebrews 4:16, and James 4:6.)
..”

Taking a DNA Test

Brush your teeth and/or use mouthwash.
Don’t eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum or tobacco for 30 minutes after brushing your teeth and before providing your saliva sample.
To encourage saliva production, gently rub your cheeks from the outside (pressing them against your teeth and gums) before spitting into the tube.
If you find it hard to produce saliva, place 1/4 teaspoon of white table sugar on your tongue.
If you can’t produce enough saliva in one try, refrigerate your tube in an upright position between attempts. You can refrigerate your sample for up to a week before needing to add it to the blue solution in the saliva tube. ..”

How Safe is Your Information When You Use a DNA Testing Kit?
by Jessa Barron October 22, 2015 nextadvisor.com“..They can help us discover more about our origins and even help us connect to family members we didn’t know we had. While there are questions about how these tests are completed, one of the more pertinent questions relates to the security of these tests. Many are concerned with who has access to your DNA test once it’s sent back into the lab and what the lab can legally do with your DNA. To help you determine how safe your information is if you use a DNA testing kit, we answer some of the most common questions when it comes to protecting your information and test results…”

“..I should point out that, when you look at the mitochondria and you look at the Y chromosome, it is only looking at one chapter in the 23 chapters of the DNA history. And DNA is, if you want to think about it in a more practical term, it’s like a tape recorder. And it records all of your ancestral migrations, and it has nothing to do with politics, or race, or religion. It is only recording those events, and half of it comes from your mother and half of it comes from your father. But it’s not always equal.

So, that being said, parents and children do not necessarily always inherit, let’s say the minor components of a genetic ancestry. So you might have three children, and one child would inherit, let’s say, a 15 percent sub-Saharan African content, and the second child will inherit none. And that’s just the DNA shuffle, as we call it. ..

But we also know that this DNA and this racial categorization is used in forensics and in criminology, in ways that your own privacy might be subject to a court order, for example. To find out if any relatives in your family might be involved in some activity. “

What DNA Testing Companies’ Terrifying Privacy Policies Actually Mean Kristen V. Brown Senior Writer, Gizmodo. gizmodo.com ‘..Lucky for you, Gizmodo slogged though every line of Ancestry.com, 23andMe, and Helix’s privacy, terms of service, and research policies with the help of experts in privacy, law and consumer protection. It wasn’t fun. We fell asleep at least once. And what we found wasn’t pretty.

“It’s basically like you have no privacy, they’re taking it all,” said Joel Winston, a consumer protection lawyer. “When it comes to DNA tests, don’t assume you have any rights.”..

here’s what you need to know before giving away your genetic information.
Testing companies can claim ownership of your DNA

Okay, so your DNA is inside of you. A corporation can’t really claim ownership of it. But they can claim ownership of the DNA sample you send them, and the analysis they run on it, including the resulting information on the makeup of your genome.

When it comes to Ancestry, while the company recently revised its policy to state that it “does not claim any ownership rights in the DNA that is submitted for testing,” another clause in its policies asserts that even if they don’t actually own your DNA, the company can use that DNA basically however it wants: …

Pitts also pointed out that if a genetic testing company was bought, there’s no telling how a new owner might handle the data….

The other thing that’s clear is that genetic testing companies are definitely selling information to third parties for medical research in order to make money. ..

Not to mention, while the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act allegedly prevents health insurers and workplaces from discriminating based on your genetic information, gaps in the law mean that life, long-term care, or disability insurance providers as well as the military can still make decisions based on findings from your DNA. ..

Genetic testing companies may promise to not share information with insurers without your consent, but that doesn’t stop an insurer from asking you whether you have ever taken any genetic tests. And if the answer is yes, you could be compelled to share information relevant to your health. (A new health care bill and seemingly stalled legislation introduced last March in the house both further threaten to challenge protections that allow you to keep your genetic information private.)…

If you do not read those documents—and many don’t—you’re missing the fine print that explains how your DNA can be used, misused, leaked, hacked, sold and commodified without your knowledge or deliberate consent.

“I think you have to assume that you’re going to lose control over that information,” warns Ann Cavoukian, a former Ontario privacy commissioner who runs the Privacy and Big Data Institute at Ryerson University…

“We allow customers to close their accounts. It’s a bit complicated by our regulatory compliance for laboratories in the United States, which requires that raw information be held for a minimum of 10 years. The information will be de-identified, but will continue to be stored for that set amount of time.”…”

…Your genetic data can show your odds of getting diseases, like the BRCA1 genetic mutation that can mean a much higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Some diseases, like Huntington’s disease, are genetic, and susceptibility can be read from someone’s genetic information. With the science of genetics in its infancy, it’s impossible to know what can be told about you from your DNA in the future.

“With genetic data, it is very concrete, in terms of a road map to your physical conditions,” Cavoukian says….

“We are very clear that users own and control their data,” ancestry.com spokesperson Patrick Erlich wrote in an e-mail. “They can download it, ask us to delete it and destroy the sample, and can revoke their opt-in consent to participate in research projects at any time.”

“As disclosed in our policies, DNA samples are stored without personally identifying information at either a testing laboratory or other storage facility and may be kept by us unless or until circumstances require us to destroy the sample, or it is no longer suitable for testing purposes. ”

“..
In the event of corporate bankruptcy, consumers’ genetic data would likely be considered a corporate asset and sold. That is what happened when deCODE, a prior competitor of 23andMe, went bankrupt in 2009. Pharmaceutical giant Amgen purchased the company in December 2012 for $415M, in part for its large data bank.

You may learn about your own health risks or carrier status and by extension the potential risks and carrier status of your relatives…”

23andMe, Ancestry and Selling Your DNA Information 23andMe, Posted on December 30, 2015 dna-explained.com“..However, opting out of his higher level DOES NOT stop the company from utilizing, sharing or selling your anonymized DNA and data. Anonymized data means your identity and what they consider identifying information has been removed.

Many people think that if you opt-out, your DNA and data is never shared or sold, but according to 23andMe and Ancestry’s own documentation, that’s not true. Opt-out is not truly opt-out. It’s only opting out of them sharing your non-anonymized data – meaning just the higher level of participation only. They still share your anonymized data in aggregated fashion…”Uprooted: The dangers of DNA testing
Virginia Hughes | October 1, 2013 | MATTER geneticliteracyproject.org“Searching your genetic ancestry can certainly be fun: You can trace the migration patterns of 10,000-year-old ancestors, or discover whether a distant relative ruled a continent or rode on the Mayflower. But the technology can just as easily unearth more private acts—infidelities, sperm donations, adoptions—of more recent generations, including previously unknown behaviors of your grandparents, parents, and even spouses. Family secrets have never been so vulnerable…”

As I suggested above, different companies use different reference populations and algorithms to create a biogeographical estimate, which can result in varying estimates.

For example, in my previous review of AncestryDNA’s Genetic Ethnicity Prediction, I compared my genetic ethnicity results from three companies (Ancestry.com, 23andMe, and FTDNA), and found that their results varied considerably. I’m not surprised by this, but I do expect that over time – as the industry arrives at more standard reference populations and algorithms (which the cheap whole-genome sequencing revolution will enable) – that estimates from different companies will align much more closely. Be patient and enjoy being a pioneer…”

Family Tree DNA Vs Ancestry Test Results Comparison Autosomal YDna MtDna Two People Tested Versushttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFPvBWnman4
*Family Tree DNA does more updates of others doing DNA test related to you
*ANcestry DNA charges for updates if you request them after getting the results

If you can find older generations on that line to test, I recommend that. Also, get brothers, sisters and cousins tested. You never know who might have enough DNA to be detected.

Even if you find the DNA connection, you will still want to follow the paper trail. I recommend our Native American Research Guide to get you started.

Happy searching!.”

At-Home DNA Tests Might Not Be as Accurate as You Thinkhttps://youtu.be/B0WMjDqIYH0“Seeker
Published on Aug 11, 2017
DNA tests are a popular resource for people wanting to understand their ancestry and disease probability. But how accurate are these tests?

“Genetic tests, once obscure tools for scientists, have begun to influence everyday lives in many ways. The tests are reshaping people’s sense of themselves – where they came from, why they behave as they do, what disease might be coming their way.”

“A new DNA test can restore at least part of the identity of long-dead people who left no trace of their image, scientists reported on Monday. The technique has revealed the hair and eye colours of unknown individuals slaughtered as sub-humans by the Nazis and of a mystery woman buried alongside monks in a mediaeval crypt, they said.”

____________________

Seeker inspires us to see the world through the lens of science and evokes a sense of curiosity, optimism and adventure.
“

“…As far as genetics goes, all three of the triplets had their result show up as being 99% European. However, it was when that percentage began to be broken down that some real discrepancies began to arise. As the results were revealed on the show, the girls, the audience and even the doctors themselves were more and more shocked at the results. First, it was revealed that Erica had around 16% Irish and British ancestry, however Nicole had 18% Irish and British ancestry. Well, that seems to be fairly minor so far right? It was only going to get crazier as more was revealed! ..l

Different Ancestry?

The rest of the results continued to deviate from what was expected. The 23andMe test showed that while all three girls had French and German heritage, each triplet had a different percentage. Nicole had 11% French and German, Jaclyn had 18% and Erica had 22.3%. Twenty-two to eleven percent seems like a pretty drastic difference for triplets with identical DNA. For their Doctors segment, each time a new percentage was revealed it would flash on the screen and the audience would react in absolute amazement. The girls themselves were also clearly very confused about how their differing results could happen.

The final ethnicity to be revealed was the girls’ Scandinavian heritage. And for this one, yet another shocker was revealed. Two of the girls, Erica and Jaclyn both had the exact same results with the same percentage of Scandinavian ancestry at 7.4%. However, Nicole had a totally different and higher percentage at 11.4% Scandinavian. The Doctors, the Inside Edition reporter, and the Dahm triplets themselves were totally shocked at the amazing results. It turns out, these amazing ancestry DNA results might reveal even more about DNA science than previously known…
Dr. Travis Stork said, “I think the answer here is that we’ve come so far in terms of genetic testing, but you can’t just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you are looking for.” On Inside Edition, another set of triplets had similar results with another DNA kit. Only one set of triplets had results that were extremely close which was a test done with Ancestry DNA. Perhaps one day, at-home testing for ancestry will become even more streamlined and accurate. However, in the meantime it’s definitely interesting to get a peek inside where your ancestors may have descended from many years ago!
…

The at-home tests seem to be imperfect as far as percentages go, however they do undoubtedly offer insight into one’s background and ethnic makeup. Lisa mentioned on the show that while she was very interested in pursuing her own ethnic background, she might not go the route of the at-home DNA test. Instead, she said she would probably have a personalized test run by a doctor or genetic scientist. This kind of testing is definitely on the more expensive side, but are probably far more accurate. However, if you’re on a limited budget but still want to know more, an at-home test certainly won’t do you any harm! …
“

Family Roots
Elie Dolgin January 18, 2011 Kurt Hoffman forward.com
“…
DNA tests to uncover Jewish origins have been offered for decades by companies such as Houston-based Family Tree DNA and DNA Tribes of Arlington, Va. They have shown, for example, that many Hispanic Americans likely descended from Jews who were forced to convert or hide their religion more than 500 years ago in Spain and Portugal. Yet although standard ancestry-testing platforms can point to centuries-old Jewish origins, none would have flagged Pickrell’s relatively recent Semitic pedigree.

That’s because most DNA tests have traditionally relied on only two small parts of the genome: the Y-chromosome, which is passed down almost unchanged from father to son, and mitochondria, which mothers pass faithfully to their offspring. Because these stretches of DNA remain relatively consistent from one generation to the next, they are particularly useful for testing direct-line paternal and maternal ancestry, respectively; however, they essentially ignore the bulk of someone’s DNA ancestry and cannot detect genetic signatures that cross gender lines…

CeCe Moore, a 41-year-old amateur genealogist who runs a television production company in Orange County, Calif., is one such customer. In 2008, Moore tested her mitochondrial DNA and her father’s Y chromosome, but found no traces of Jewish heritage. Then, last year, she obtained her DNA readout from 23andMe and learned that a small but significant amount of her genome appeared to be of Ashkenazi origin…”

Midlife Credo
Published on Nov 27, 2018
Ancestry and 23andMe DNA test results SURPRSE! Heads up, DNA testing for adoptees can be complicated! I told you I wasn’t looking for my birth parents or biological family and it was 100% true. I’m happily adopted and love my REAL adopted parents and siblings. But when I got the results of my DNA tests from Ancestry DNA and 23andMe it changed my life FOREVER.

To be completely honest, I’m still processing everything that has happened. If my Ancestry adoption story is convoluted, please understand that it’s confusing to me, too! This is all so new and unexpected and…bizarre.

PLEASE, if you have a DNA adoption story to share, I’d love to hear it. Now more than ever!

Nia Hope
Published on Oct 27, 2018
Hi! I took my African Ancestry DNA Test hoping for certain results, but could have never guessed what the actual results turned out to be. Watch to see my live reaction!!

ASIAN

Asian Americans Take A DNA Testhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZR_vMU8db8
*you inherit 50% of your parent’s DNA
*Asian Indian woman shared she was %100 Indian, but when her mom got the test -she got 7% European, which explains Grandma’s blondish hair, which this Indian women didn’t get this European DNA -that explains why she didn’t get the European %

“Lost Tribes of Israel”

“Hidden Jews” traced to N.M. Catholicism By ELECTA DRAPER | The Denver Post
March 4, 2006 at 3:26 pm denverpost.com“..Albuquerque – When the Rev. Bill Sanchez was a little boy growing up in Santa Fe, his family expected he would become a priest.

Their Spanish nickname for him meant “Little Priest.” It was just something in the manner of the soft-spoken young Catholic, now the 53- year-old pastor of St. Edwin Parish in Albuquerque.

And, as Sanchez recently discovered through DNA testing, he is part of a priesthood tradition thousands of years old…”

Elhaik, who is now a post-doctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins, is recirculating the debunked “Khazarian hypothesis” promoted by journalist Arthur Koestler in his 1976 book, The Thirteenth Tribe, written before scientists had the tools to compare genomes and challenge his conclusion…”

Crime

5 things to know about the Golden State Killer’s case Author: Staff
Published: 11:07 AM PDT April 27, 2018
Updated: 1:11 PM PDT April 27, 2018 kare11.com
ABC10’s Walt Gray sat down with criminal defense attorney Don Heller to learn more about what’s next for the suspect as he awaits his legal fate.“..4. Genealogy plays a major role in this case. Investigators used a free genealogy website to connect the killer’s to the crimes. Lead investigator Paul Holes said authorities didn’t need a court order to access GEDMatch’s large database. Heller explained, the information collected about the East Area Rapist’s distant relatives from the site was enough to move the case forward. ..”

It is interesting that Methuselah’s life, in effect, was a symbol of God’s mercy in forestalling the coming judgment of the flood. Therefore, it is fitting that his lifetime is the oldest in the Bible, speaking of the extensiveness of God’s mercy.

The Other Names
If there is such significance in Methuselah’s name, let’s examine the other names to see what may lie behind them…

Ever got your DNA tested? Why or why not? What did you find out? Any other comments, suggestions, feedback, questions, etc… regarding the content above or not mentioned that you suggest me sharing here?

Trump on Friday signed an executive order that calls for a 90-day ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries entering the United States. The countries included are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Somalia.
In February of 2016, the Obama Administration added Libya, Yemen, and Somalia to a list of “countries of concern,” which placed some restrictions on Visa Waiver Program travel on those who had visited the countries after March 1, 2011.

Iran, Syria, Iraq and Sudan were already on the list from the administration’s original law in 2015.

Spicer said on Sunday there are many other Muslim-majority countries not included in the ban.

“There’s 46 Muslim-majority countries that are not in this seven,” he said.

Trump’s Friday order also calls for a 120-day halt on the admittance of refugees, in addition to an indefinite pause on admitting refugees from Syria.”

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Sunday pointed to the Obama administration’s actions as the basis for their selection of the seven countries.

“There were further travel restrictions already in place from those seven countries,” Spicer said on ABC’s “This Week.” “What the president did was take the first step through this executive order of insuring that we’re looking at the entire system of who’s coming in, refugees that are coming in, people who are coming in from places that have a history or that our intelligence suggests that we need to have further extreme vetting for.”

Some also questioned whether Trump deliberately left off countries where he has business interests.

The list does not include Muslim-majority countries where the Trump Organization does business, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates..”
General Wesley Clark: Wars Were Planned – Seven Countries In Five Years

“…
(ANALYSIS) — According to Reuters, Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order that would include a temporary refugee ban and a suspension of visas for citizens of Syria and six other Middle Eastern and African countries.

The list is expected to include Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. If those countries are starting to sound familiar, there’s a reason for that.

According to four-star General Wesley Clark, shortly after the attacks of 9/11, the Pentagon adopted a plan to topple the governments of seven countries; Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran.

Although such a refugee ban is welcomed by many frightened Americans due to the overplayed hype that the media has reported on the threat of refugees sweeping into Western nations, these Americans cannot turn their attention away from the hand America has had in creating these refugees in the first place.

Clark’s list of countries is not an irrelevant conspiracy theory. These countries have seen heavy interference from the United States in the last decade or so. In 2016, the country Obama bombed the most was Syria. The United States was spending approximately $1 billion a year assisting rebels who have known ties to al-Qaeda, the majority of whom share ISIS’ core belief system. The U.S. air war against ISIS has now cost American taxpayers over $11 billion. Iran is bound to Syria by a mutual defense agreement and has lost significant personnel in the battle. Iran has also taken full advantage of poor Afghans, recruiting them to fight in Syria.

Libya was destroyed in 2011 by NATO powers, an offensive in which the U.S. played the most integral role. The U.S. was backing jihadists who fought against the U.S. in Iraq to topple the Libyan regime (these fighters were later rebranded as ISIS). Even up until his last day in office, Obama was still bombing Libya (from Missouri, believe it or not.)

Obama bombed Somalia throughout his presidency. He not only relentlessly bombed Yemen, but he also supported the Saudi-led coalition’s brutal assault on Yemen’s civilian population. It could be argued that Trump is set to discontinue these practices; but, so far, he is well on his track to rapidly pursuing them. In his first weekend since inauguration, his administration conducted a number of drone strikes in Yemen with no hint at a reversal of Obama’s policies, though his approval was not required for those particular strikes…”Trump’s Travel Ban Includes 7 Countries Pentagon Wanted To Destabilize In 2002 avatar by Rachel Blevins | Jan 29, 2017 wearechange.org“..It is not just Obama’s polices that are being implemented, it is also the policies from former President George W. Bush. The seven countries that Trump restricted travel from, are the same countries that U.S. General and former NATO commander Wesley Clark mentioned when he exposed the Pentagon’s plan to destabilize those countries in 2002…”
*see Deep Thought: Who to “blame” for the world’s corruption? goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.com

But in Saudi Arabia, citizenship is based on your father’s citizenship, not where you were born. Since Maya’s father was a Syrian citizen, she is, too — which means that even though she was born in Saudi Arabia, she’s subject to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning Syrians and people from six other majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. without special permission. In fact, she may have been subject to it even if she had never set foot in Syria. Trump’s order appears to be based on nationality, not country of origin…”What You Need to Know About President Trump’s Ban on Immigrants/Non-immigrants from 7 Countries & Suspension of U.S Refugee Program 28.01.2017 at 11:51 pm By BellaNaija.com“U.S President, Donald Trump‘s Executive Order signed on Friday is sending shockwaves round the globe, as the businessman turned politician banned citizens from seven countries, including three from Africa, from entering the U.S for the next 90 days. The policy also affects Green Card holders…

Visa Declined Kim LaCapria Jan 31, 2017 snopes.com
Comparisons between a 2011 Obama administration slowdown on processing Iraqi visas and President Trump’s stay on immigration from seven countries are inaccurate.“..WHAT’S TRUE: In 2011 the State Department’s issuance of SIVs to Iraqi applicants slowed after two individuals in Kentucky were identified as having possibly been improperly screened; multiple national news outlets reported on the State Department visa processing slowdown while it was occurring and in subsequent years.

WHAT’S FALSE: Neither President Obama nor the State Department banned or stopped those applications entirely; the slowdown affected a single type of visa from a single country (and not all entry from several countries); the slowdown occurred in order to implement enhanced screening procedures, which remained in place in January 2017.
..”The sinister possible reason why Trump’s “Muslim ban” targeted seven particular countries Written by Aamna Mohdin January 31, 2017 qz.com“…But a look at the origins of the list of seven countries suggest the administration may have been simply looking for a way to lay the legal precedent for discrimination on Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama.

The list of countries arose in a rare show of compromise between the White House and the Republican-led Congress in 2015, which resulted in the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015.

Thirty-eight countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows their citizens to visit the US for limited periods without applying for a visa in advance. Following the Nov. 13, 2015 attacks in Paris and the Dec. 2 shootings in San Bernardino, California, Republicans and White House officials cobbled together an overhaul of the VWP. Jamal Abdi, policy director of the National Iranian American Council, suggests Republicans had been goaded by Trump’s call for an outright ban on Muslims entering the US in the wake of the two attacks, and “forced Obama’s hand.”

The resulting legislation removed visa-free travel for citizens of VWP countries who had travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran, or Sudan since 2011, or who also held citizenship of those countries. The countries were picked because they either had “significant foreign terrorist organization presence” or were designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
..”

Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ is not the first time specific groups or nationalities have been blocked from the US.“..But this is not the first time that the US has banned immigrants from its shores. Over the past 200 years, successive American presidents have placed restrictions on the immigration of certain groups.

Here are six occasions when laws have been passed to restrict some people from entering the country.

Exclusion of the Chinese

President Chester A. Arthur.

Signed on May 6, 1882.

The Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned “skilled and unskilled labourers and Chinese employed in mining” from entering the US for 10 years, was the first significant law restricting immigration to the country. It came at a time when the US was struggling with high unemployment and, although Chinese made up a very small segment of the country’s workforce, they were nevertheless scapegoated for its social and economic woes.

..
..”

SUPPORT

Americans Have Grown To Like The Idea Of A Temporary Ban On Muslims Photo of Alex Pfeiffer Alex Pfeiffer Reporter 11:27 AM 06/22/2016 dailycaller.com“..The next polling of Americans generally (rather than just Republican primary voters) on the issue came out in late March. That poll was conducted following the Islamic terror attack in Brussels that left 35 people dead…

YouGov polled Americans again on the Muslim ban and, by that time, support for the ban had increased to 51 percent and opposition to it had dropped to 40 percent…”

The Reuters poll has remained steady after the Orlando terror attack. On June 14, fifty percent of likely voters supported a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, while 42 percent opposed it.

A Morning Consult poll released Wednesday had 48 percent of Americans supporting a Muslim ban and 40 percent against the proposal…
*see Deep Thought: Prayers for Orlando Shooting goodnewseverybodycom.wordpress.comHow Many Americans Now Support Trump’s Muslim Ban? A Lot. dailywire.com“..The question now is how will the massacre in Orlando — carried out by the radical Muslim son of a Taliban-sympathizing Afghan refugee — impact the poll when its 5-day rolling average does not include pre-attack survey results. Trump’s clarification of the limits of his ban in his speech following the attack might also play a role in national opinion on the issue. ..

[J]ust a few weeks before San Bernardino, the slaughter, that’s all it was was a slaughter, Hillary Clinton explained her refusal to say the words “radical Islam.” Here is what she said, exact quote, “Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people, and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism.” That is Hillary Clinton.

We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer. Many of the principles of radical Islam are incompatible with Western values and institutions.

I refuse to allow America to become a place where gay people, Christian people, Jewish people are targets of persecution and intimidation by radical Islamic preachers of hate and violence.

This is not just a national security issue. It’s a quality of life issue. If we want to protect the quality of life for all Americans — women and children, gay and straight, Jews and Christians and all people then we need to tell the truth about radical Islam and we need to do it now.”Muslim community leader supports Trump’s proposed ban

NOT SUPPORT

Yemen says Trump’s travel ban on Muslims supports extremists
World News | Sun Jan 29, 2017 | 5:18pm EST .reuters.com/ Trump’s “Muslim ban” is a huge gift to ISIS Updated by Jennifer Williams@jenn_ruthjennifer@vox.com Jan 29, 2017, 3:03pm EST vox.com
ISIS says the US is at war with Islam. Trump just helped them make their case.“..ISIS has been trying for years to convince Muslims around the world that the West — and especially the United States — is at war with Islam. President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration will make it much easier for it to make its case.

The executive order — which bans all immigrants and visa holders from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for 90 days, bans all refugee admissions for 120 days, bans Syrian refugees indefinitely, and puts Christian refugees at the front of the line — plays right into the ISIS narrative.

No immigrants from any of the seven countries on the list — Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia — have killed Americans in terrorist attacks in the US. Not one. What immigrants and refugees from most of those countries are doing, however, is fleeing repression, violence, and war — in the case of Iraq and Yemen, wars started or supported by the US itself. ..”Donald Trump Ban Muslims: Protest at US Airports Against Donald Trump Muslim Ban

Iran says order is ‘gift to extremists’ and insult to Islamic world, with condemnation also from Iraq and Sudan

Muslim-majority countries angry at Trump travel ban

Iran says order is ‘gift to extremists’ and insult to Islamic world, with condemnation also from Iraq and Sudan
Donald Trump’s ban on Muslim travellers Global condemnation and calls to cancel UK state visit – but president stands defiant: ‘Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting’ Mo Farah tells family: ‘Daddy might not be able to come home’ Thousands join angry protests at American airports
Donald Trump’s ban on Muslims: Global backlash as Boris Johnson hits out amid calls to cancel state visit

Sir Mo Farah describes going from being knighted to an ‘alien’ under ban Boris Johnson hits out at Trump saying “we will protect UK nationals” MPs call for Trump’s UK state visit to be cancelled as online petition reaches debate threshold Theresa May criticised for weak response as Tory’s express ‘heartbreak’ Reaction and protests in pictures How the world’s media covered Donald Trump’s immigration ban ‘The American dream is dead’ – comment from Rob Crilly

Jeremy Corbyn has called for Donald Trump’s UK state visit to be cancelled amid global outcry over the President’s immigration order.

The US President’s controversial order prevents travellers and refugees from seven Muslim countries gaining entry into the US.

The Government has criticised the measure calling it “divisive”, but the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for Mr Trump’s state visit to Britain in the summer should be cancelled.

It comes as a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily barring the US from deporting people from nations subject to President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Despite worldwide outrage the US President has defended the measure – insisting it is “not a Muslim ban… but is working very nicely.”

There were widespread protests throughout America on Saturday night as well as global condemnation for the ban, which has seen by people refused entry at US border controls and turned away from boarding flights.

The Government’s chief secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, has described the measures as “divisive” and suggested they could fuel terrorism.

People gather for a protest at the Arrivals Hall of San Francisco’s SFO International Airport after people arriving from Muslim-majority countries were held at the border control Credit: PETER DASILVA

A senior Homeland Security official said that roughly 375 travelers affected by the order so far. Out of the 375, 109 were in transit to the US and denied entry. Another 173 people were stopped by airlines from boarding an aircraft to the US. An additional 81 travelers with green cards or special immigrant visas received waivers.

Civil rights and faith groups, activists and Democratic politicians were furious and vowed to fight the order.

Capping a day of confusion and chaos and protests in several airports across the country, a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, granted a temporary reprieve. The American Civil Liberties Union successfully argued for a temporary stay that allowed detained travelers to stay in the United States.

The court action does not reverse Trump’s order, which was criticized by some of America’s closest allies.

Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Saturday

Along with Syria, the ban affects travelers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The order “affects a minor portion of international travelers,” the department said in a statement, saying the measures “inconvenienced” less than one percent of travelers.

The new rules blindsided people in transit and families waiting for them, and caused havoc for businesses with employees holding passports from the targeted nations and colleges with international students.”

“…But this is not about numbers, it’s about a religion that has intentions to take over the state.”

…
So, as Spencer explains, it’s not just a matter of the Muslim community advancing in Europe and America, it’s that all of the possible neutralizing factors are in retreat, hiding behind well-intentioned fantasies of multiculturalism, diversity and tolerance.

Spencer is not the only Western scholar who is worried.

“Some 5 percent of the EU, or nearly 20 million persons, presently identify themselves as Muslims,” wrote historian Daniel Pipes in an article for the New York Sun. “Should current trends continue, that number will reach 10 percent by 2020. If non-Muslims flee the new Islamic order, as seems likely, the continent could be majority-Muslim within decades.
He told WND that the Muslim Brotherhood strategy from 1966 forward has been to avoid confrontations with American power. Instead, he says, the Brotherhood attempts to coax the U.S. into using its power for the Brotherhood’s own benefit.

The Brotherhood’s strategy is three-pronged, he said. It uses its front group CAIR to influence the government and military life, while ISNA works to foster “interfaith” dialogue with major Christian denominations and Jewish organizations. A third front group, the Muslim Student Association, or MSA, focuses on influencing K-12 and university education.

It is through these three groups that the Brotherhood wages “cultural jihad,” or what Christian calls “stealth jihad.”

“They want to influence the whole United States,” Christian said. “They see the U.S. as three things – it’s a government, it’s a religious institution and it is colleges and education; so we have three organizations and all are designated to each one of those things.”
..”

I know that this will come as a shock to many reading this article because they did not learn of these events from FOX or CNN.

However, in actuality, the process of moving the United States towards a complete Agenda 21 style of total urbanization has already commenced and it began nearly 20 years ago.

In 1994, the US became official participants in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was a ‘liberalized’ trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Under NAFTA, farmers’ income in all three countries has plummeted and millions of small farmers have lost their land, while agribusiness corporations (i.e. large government subsidized corporate farms) have reaped huge profits.

NAFTA has had three dramatic effects on farmers in North America and all three effects further the cause dense urbanization as outlined in Agenda 21 documents.

The Roots of Illegal Immigration

The first notable effect of NAFTA is that it immediately bankrupted over three million farmers in northern Mexico and this group became the vanguard of millions of Mexicans illegally entering the US in search for subsistence work of any type.

“..The depopulation agenda is being legitimized in print by various global think tank groups as a means to deindustrialize the planet in order to save it from the overuse of fossil fuels. Further, the depopulation agenda is being used as an excuse to protect this planet’s inhabitants from a dwindling food source. This is one of the biggest lies being perpetrated upon the people. A growing population base is not causing the planet to run out of food. Here is a short video which exposes this deceptive agenda…”

ACTION

Learned anything new? What other substantial sources do you have that can support either side? Why do you support it? What can “we” do to show “love” and “peace” to the Muslims already in the United States and/or outside?

After listening to this podcast S2E4 – Jesus Jukes , from youtube.com“Published on Jan 11, 2017

You seem interested in what people want, but what about what God wants? You just got Jesus Juked! Bobby and John explore what, why, and how not to apply Jesus Jukes into your conversations. We chit-chat about a heartwarming story from Red Lake Falls and a touch a little more into Christians and politics. Our segment today: Would you rather – Jesus edition.

This was supposed to be episode 5, but recording for episode 4 didn’t happen, so 5 now became 4. Which means, we skipped a step in John’s Coffee Corner, but trust me, it’s still good.
“

Our usual weekly news video is taking a short break, and will be back soon.
So over the next few weeks, we’re going to bring you a serialised talk by Wayne Grudem entitled; Does ‘political’ involvement distract from the gospel?
Wayne says there are 5 wrong views of Christian influence on politics, and one right view.
This week he explores his first ‘wrong’ view; – Government should compel religion.”
*should we do “evangelism” or “politics”?

I’m still adding to this , so feel free to come back. Thanks for checking this blog out! 🙂

The Big Banks Are Corrupt — and Getting Worse
05/22/2015 12:15 am ET | Updated May 22, 2016 huffingtonpost.com“..According to the report, “Nearly one-third of respondents (32%) believe compensation structures or bonus plans in place at their company could incentivize employees to compromise ethics or violate the law. “

In fact, bankers’ bonuses do incentivize unethical and criminal behavior – and anything else it takes to generate profits. “Clawbacks” for ill-gotten gains are still few and far between. Remarkably few bankers have been fired for the widespread fraud that continues to characterize their industry. Prosecution for criminal behavior is extremely rare.

A system which rewards antisocial behavior begets social tragedy. It’s also a law enforcement nightmare. Criminology teaches that the presence of reward for criminal behavior, along with the absence of deterrence, almost inevitably leads to more crime…”

“…Global Exchange has compiled a new list of “most wanted” corporations of 2016 based on issues like unlivable working conditions, low pay, violations of human right and voting rights; climate change denial, and environmental destruction, just to name a few.

Four corporations, Koch Industries, McDonald’s, Chevron and Monsanto were on earlier lists but are included again, as the corporate behavior of these companies has reached egregious levels this year and merits repeat attention.

The Ten Top Corporate Criminals list is a guide to what companies like Energy Transfer Partners, Exxon Mobil, H&M and others are doing to undermine human rights and the environment. Share the list with friends, family, and co-workers. Use the Take Action section to add your voice and increase the pressure…

1. Energy Transfer Partners

..The pipeline is supposed to stretch from North Dakota to a market hub in Illinois, and from there another pipeline is to ship the oil to the gulf coast for Asian export. It would deliver up to 570,000 barrels of what the company calls its “light, sweet crude,” fracked in North Dakota’s Bakken and Three Forks fields.

The pipeline is to cross 209 rivers, creeks and tributaries, including the nations longest river, the Missouri, which is the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s main source of drinking and irrigation water. It will also destroy tribal burial grounds and sacred sites.

The Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition representing farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, student and local community organizations along the pipeline route as well as nationwide, has been fighting the pipeline since late 2014. On August 25, just days before the September 3rd assault, more than 30 national and tribal environmental organizations had joined together to write President Obama a letter calling on President Obama to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. And on September 9, minutes after a federal judge declined the Tribe’s request for an injunction to stop construction on the pipeline, the Obama administration made a surprise announcement that it would not permit the project to continue for now. Continued action is essential to keep the pipeline from being built…”“

In this RSA Animate, celebrated academic David Harvey looks beyond capitalism towards a new social order. Can we find a more responsible, just, and humane economic system?

The RSA is a 258 year-old charity devoted to creating social progress and spreading world-changing ideas. For more information about our research, RSA Animates, free events programme and 27,000 strong fellowship.

Animation by Cognitive Media. Andrew Park, the mastermind behind the Animate series and everyone’s favourite hairy hand, discusses their appeal and success in his blog post, ‘Talk to the hand’: http://www.thersa.org/talk-to-the-hand/&#8221;

How to Contact the 17 Banks Funding the Dakota Access Pipeline Emily Fuller posted Sep 29, 2016 Updated Nov. 30, 2016 yesmagazine.org
Here are CEO names, emails, and phone numbers—because banks have choices when it comes to what projects they give loans to.“..Food & Water Watch researcher Hugh MacMillan: “Ask these banks to clarify whether funds they are providing are being used, in any amount, to pay for the heavily militarized response to the Standing Rock Sioux, including the attack dogs, sound-cannon trucks, heavily armed officers.”

“People should also ask these institutions why they are sinking so much money into maximizing the amounts of oil and gas that can be brought to the surface and burned at a time when climate science is clear we have to maximize what we keep in the ground instead,” said MacMillan.

The organization’s deputy communications director, Seth Gladstone, suggests saying: “As a customer of your financial institution, I reject the notion of my money helping to support your investment in the Dakota Access pipeline, an inherently dangerous and unjust oil pipeline that threatens air and water quality in many states, and violates sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. I urge you to give up your financial stake in the Dakota Access pipeline immediately.”

Here are names of CEOs and other bank executives involved in these decisions—along with their phone numbers and email addresses. The first 17 banks (*) are directly funding the Dakota Access pipeline. The rest of these banks are offering credit lines to its parent companies: Sunoco Logistics, Energy Transfer Partners, and Energy Transfer Equity.

The following bank information has been updated periodically, most recently Nov. 30, 2016. Some banks have disconnected phones and disabled email addresses since the start of the campaign. Contact us with adjustments..”

An Open Letter To Investors In The Dakota Access Pipeline November 29th, 2016 by Susanna Schick cleantechnica.com“..While Norwegian investors pull out because the DAPL does not meet their Corporate Social Responsibility requirements, and Energy Transfer Partners sells its company to Sunoco to better compete against Russia, I would like to propose that all investors pull their funds from this project, as there are other energy projects with a much higher ROI that actually build a stronger US economy. I am addressing Goldman Sachs because of its stated commitment to environmental stewardship and its long track record of successful investments.

Dear Mr. Blankfein,

As one of the best investment banks in the world, Goldman Sachs’ job is to keep one foot firmly planted in the future. The oil industry is dying, and “energy” companies that refuse to expand into other forms of energy will die along with it. Do you wish you’d invested in a film camera company 15 years ago? This is the same situation, but with a much bigger industry.

As a journalist covering clean tech, I’ve seen the future, and it’s electric. This was never more clear than on October 28th, when Tesla announced its Powerpack 2 batteries, grid-scale batteries twice as energy dense at the same price. Customers like SoCal Edison will install them next month to decrease their dependency on natural gas, the main commodity ETP offers. The same commodity which recently caused the biggest methane leak ever in the US…”

Just 10 days ago, DNB warned it might withdraw funding for construction of the contentious pipeline if concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux were not addressed promptly…

“The news that DNB has sold its assets and is considering terminating its loans is a victory for the water protectors who are fighting to stop this disaster of a project. All financial institutions with a stake in the pipeline must quickly realize that financing this project is toxic. It would be smart for them to get out ahead of the growing movement of customers looking to divest from banks that finance the destruction of our planet and ignore Indigenous rights and sovereignty. Citigroup, TD Securities, Wells Fargo, SunTrust, and the other banks backing this project should see this as a sign to get on the right side of history…”Financing Dakota Access Pipeline puts US bank in more hot water Frank Hopper • December 13, 2016 indiancountrymedianetwork.com“…Under the proposed legislation the city’s current contract with Wells Fargo, which ends in one year, on December 31, 2017, would not be renewed. In the meantime, the city would “enter into a voluntary debarment agreement with Wells Fargo Bank for a period of at least one year, and refrain from conducting banking, investment, or other business with Wells Fargo Bank for a period of at least one year when it is in the City’s discretion.”..

Why Wells Fargo?

While many different banks are financing the Dakota Access Pipeline, research by Food & Water Watch identifies 17 banks as loaning directly to Dakota Access LLC. Most are located in other countries such as France, Japan, the Netherlands, Canada, Italy, Germany, England and Spain. Of those located in the U.S., only two are large with many branch offices: Wells Fargo and Citibank. Wells Fargo is being targeted because it is the most visible of the U.S. banks financing the pipeline, loaning close to $500 million for its construction.

Additionally, federal regulators recently revealed a scandal involving Wells Fargo employees who opened over 2 million unauthorized bank and credit card accounts in the names of customers, apparently to hit sales targets and make money on fees. Approximately 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have been fired.

And if that weren’t reason enough, in 2012 the U.S. Department of Justice forced Wells Fargo to pay $175 million after it was determined they engaged in discriminatory lending practices against black and Hispanic borrowers…”How Standing Rock’s Divest Campaign Can Stop Future Pipelines
By Colby Devitt | December 19, 2016 billmoyers.com
As banks begin to respond, environmental movements are learning the importance of speaking clearly about the financial risks of fossil fuel investment.Between Now and Trump, We Must #DefundDAPL December 16, 2016 gofossilfree.org“…On December 4th, the Obama Administration announced that it will not grant Energy Transfer Partners the final permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline to drill under the Missouri River, and called for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project. This milestone is a testament to the amazing movement that indigenous leadership and the camps at Standing Rock have led, and has re-defined what is possible when thousands of people come together to peacefully resist.

But the fight to stop Dakota Access isn’t over — and right now, before Trump comes into office, is a critical moment.

We can’t say for certain what will happen when Trump’s in office, and we don’t know how an attempt to reverse this decision will play out in the courts – so right now it’s crucial that we use another source of our strength to stop this project: our financial power and collective pressure.

The divestment movement has already shown the power of moving our money and rejecting the social license of the fossil fuel industry. Just this week, it was announced that total assets committed to divest surpass $5 trillion. Now we need to turn that power and momentum to Dakota Access.

The Dakota Access pipeline is being financed in various ways by 17 banks (here’s a list with contact info for each). ..”

The Break Free campaign targets fossil fuel projects around the world through demonstrations with the aim of keeping coal, oil and gas in the ground.

350 Aotearoa, the New Zealand arm of an international climate movement, is behind the protests and is targeting ANZ for its “heavy investment” in fossil fuels…”

Where to Invest?

Is Your Bank Funding DAPL? Here’s How to Find One That Isn’t Gerald Mitchell posted Dec 01, 2016 yesmagazine.org
There’s an entire industry of ethically minded banks and financial institutions out there to choose from.“..Every day in December has been declared a day of action for those protecting sacred ground and water from the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. While most of us can’t be there in person, a growing number of supporters are taking action by breaking up with banks that are funding the pipeline. As an act of solidarity with the water protectors at Standing Rock, this also helps put pressure on the banks to change their practices now and in the future. But closing your megabank account raises the question: Where should I move my money?

Luckily, there’s an entire industry of ethically minded banks and financial institutions out there to choose from. While they aren’t always guaranteed to have a clean environmental record, they do invest locally and in underserved areas. And they are also almost certainly not funding DAPL and trampling on indigenous sovereignty…”Ethical Banks moveyourmoney.org.uk

“…Among those companies with the most awful records are some of the usual suspects in the oil and mining industries but Covalence also found some lesser-known offenders….

#10 Total SA
French oil and gas company Total has been accused of building a pipeline with the aid of slave labor in Myanmar. In addition, in 1999 one of the company’s oil tankers, the Erika, which had 30,000 tons of oil on board, sunk off of the coast of Brittany. A French court later asked the company to compensate the victims of the spill…

#6 Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Occidental, one of America’s largest oil and gas companies, has been involved in a number of territory disputes in multiple countries, including Ecuador and Colombia. The company also drew ire from environmentalists in 2005, when it proposed building a road through Ecuador’s Yasuní National Park.
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#3 Chevron Corp.
Chevron, the oil and gas behemoth, has been accused of tax evasion as well a number of environmental infractions in several countries around the world. But perhaps most controversial was a 1998 episode in Nigeria: after protesters took hostages as part of a demonstration against the company, Nigerian soldiers shot at the demonstrators, killing two. Chevron was accused of facilitating the transport of the soldiers, known for their “general history of committing abuses,” to the scene. The company, however, was cleared of the charges in 2008…

#2 Halliburton Company
After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Halliburton, the oil and gas company famously associated with former Vice President Dick Cheney, was accused of unfairly procuring billions of dollars in government contracts for oil repair in the country.

Currently still re”searching” on this controversial issue. Feel free to share any info. Any other newsworthy items that needs to be told?